This property has a documented history as a property with a heating oil tank predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could help fund the ongoing and future cleanup under Oregon DEQ oversight.
This property in Columbia County housed a former heating oil aboveground storage tank associated with Hanel Lumber Co, and heating oil contamination has been confirmed in both soil and groundwater. Oregon DEQ entered the site into its cleanup system in late 2025 and designated the cleanup status as Suspect, indicating an early investigation stage. A responsible party is under agreement or order with DEQ, and the project is actively in progress with no No Further Action determination or remediation completion on record. That history could support an insurance coverage claim against the carriers who issued policies more than 40 years ago — coverage that could help fund the cleanup ahead.
Why Historical Insurance Policies May Be Accessible
Pre-1986 Commercial General Liability (CGL) policies were occurrence-based and did not contain an effective pollution exclusion in Oregon — and those policies may provide coverage that remains enforceable today. If contamination occurred while those policies were active, those historical insurance carriers may still have a legal obligation to fund the cleanup costs, even if the business closed or the property changed hands.
The former heating oil AST at this property is associated with longstanding industrial operations that were underway well before 1986, placing the likely origin of the confirmed soil and groundwater contamination in that earlier period. With cleanup still in its early stages under DEQ oversight, the investigation, remediation, and long-term monitoring work ahead represents substantial future costs that historical pre-1986 carriers may be obligated to fund.
Restorical's role is to locate viable historical policies, determine whether a successful coverage claim is possible, and assist our clients and their legal counsel to obtain insurance coverage. Restorical then manages the claim, including accounting, to ensure the cleanup is funded in a timely manner.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management
The Restorical Proven Process
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Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.